CPI(M) Urges PM to Sack Puri Amid Epstein Revelations

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Friday demanded the immediate removal of Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri from the Union Cabinet, citing his alleged involvement in the recently unsealed "Epstein Files" related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a strongly worded statement issued by its Polit Bureau, the party described the emerging contents of the files as "extremely repulsive and abhorrent," accusing the government of shielding Puri despite what it claims is clear evidence of his links to Epstein.

The CPI(M) highlighted that several individuals named in similar international revelations have resigned from positions in their countries, yet no accountability has been sought from Puri or industrialist Anil Ambani, who is also mentioned in connection with the files. The party alleged that the Union government has blocked any parliamentary discussion on the Epstein Files and accused Puri of lying during a recent press conference to downplay his interactions. It further claimed that Puri is being "protected by all devious means," calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack him to "address the national embarrassment and shame" arising from the controversy.

The demand follows weeks of political uproar over references to Puri in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, including email exchanges and meeting records from 2014 to 2017. Opposition leaders, including Congress figures, have repeatedly questioned the nature of these interactions, with some alleging dozens of emails and meetings. Puri has maintained that his contacts with Epstein were limited, professional, and unrelated to any criminal activities, stemming from his involvement with a New York-based think tank. He has dismissed the allegations as baseless innuendo and a smear campaign.

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The CPI(M)'s call intensifies pressure on the government amid ongoing opposition protests in Parliament demanding clarity and resignation. The party emphasized the broader implications of the Epstein network, involving powerful elites, and criticized the lack of transparency or investigation into Indian names surfacing in the files. As the controversy persists, it has sparked debates on accountability for public figures linked to such international scandals, though no official response from the government or Puri to the latest CPI(M) statement was immediately available.

This development comes against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of the Epstein Files since their partial unsealing, which continue to generate revelations and political fallout globally. In India, the issue has become a flashpoint between the ruling NDA and opposition parties, with calls for parliamentary debate likely to continue in the coming sessions.

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